A personal view of the season

[Steph]

I consider that the season, overall, has been successful. I have seen the analysis by Steve in the programme and he has highlighted the difficulties we have had at home and against, shall we say, lesser opposition.

 

In the early stages of the season we had two very good cup runs and I hope we can go better next year. We have tended to disappoint in our cup displays in past seasons. The victory at Leatherhead was a real delight. I felt however that we still did not have the quality which would propel us into the premier league. We lacked bite up front and that has been our problem throughout the year, particularly at home.

 

So why do we fail at home and against lesser clubs. The manager does not offer an explanation in the programme so I will offer one for him.

 

Without goalscoring forwards who are determined to get their shots in and penetrate the danger areas we will not score regularly. We have tremendous ball players but our forwards, with one or two exceptions, have been slow and our midfield does not get forward enough to offer support. Away from home all clubs will have a go and see if they can get to us often leaving gaps at the back. When they play us at our ground, particularly the lesser clubs, they play for the point and leave one or two fast forwards up front to collect the long ball. How often do we hear "hook it" from the opposing manager or defenders when a back has the ball and is encouraged to boot it. If our forwards and midfield cannot mix it with their defenders then the back line comes up to assist and we are exposed. The situation gets worse if our opponents score early. Stronger clubs will look for the win away from home and so we do not encounter the packed defence so often found with the weaker sides. Another think is that stronger clubs heads will go down if they are losing whereas weaker teams it is no more than they expect so they keep on playing the same way and will not come out looking for the equaliser.

 

Of to a Christening now and the wife is getting impatient so I will come back to this later.

[thecoldend]

Season has been a success even if we did fall short by ONE POINT!!! to qualify for the play offs... Had W&F not scored in the final minute or Ware in the last moments we'd be all planning for a midweek trip to Needham.....

 

With a few additions in the right area which will strengthen an already good squad of players and less injuries I think the signs are good for next season. Plus we'll hopefully be playing on a good pitch home and away which will suit the Town's footballing style no end.

 

Winning at Brentwood and Sudbury have been the highlights for me as well as running a very good Tonbridge side close in the Trophy (they finished 2nd in the Premier)

 

Town have the 2nd best defensive record in the league (only East Thurrock have a better one) and the third best goal difference..

 

2011/12 should be a good one.

[andyetfc]

Ifs, buts and maybes. I am sure the fact we lost 14 games during the 40 match season did not help matters at all.

 

 

End of season report.

 

Needs to consolidate and try harder next season.

[Enfield United]

I've said it about 20 times. Well I'll say it 21 times now.

 

All the above comments are very valid and of good opinion. However, Steve would need an improved budget To improve the team, I think he has produced wonders for the budget he was working with. So sadly, even at our level money talks louder, so long as you have the right fella to use it.

 

We talk about goalscoring midfielders and a top striker, well who would'nt want one of those, but they will all have a price.

 

Looking ahead, I think we firstly need better luck with the crucifying injury list we had this season and secondly sensibly forecast our potential new takings at the QE, which can be put forward to strengthening the team.

 

Have a nice summer to all, but for what it is worth, I'll forecast a Brentwood/Needham final with Brentwood being winners.

[andyetfc]

I've said it about 22 times so here is the 23rd.

 

More people through the door = hopefully more budget to play with = hopefully better quality players = hopefully better football and results = more people through the door.

 

Clear as mud!

[Bren]

 

 

, I'll forecast a Brentwood/Needham final with Brentwood being winners.

 

 

Problem - that's the semi-final!!

 

 

[Steve Newing]

For those who were not at the members meeting last week Steve was gutted that we hadnt made the play offs again. He stated that the best side in the league won it and until the last two mnths Needham matched them stride for stride. Paul our chairman expressed the view that the board felt given the resources available( QE venture main focus ) that the team had given us another good season. Whilst Steve acknowledged that a bigger budget helps ( mainly when key players our out for long spells ) he was very dissappointed that we had missed a play off spot as he feels as I think do most of us that ETU aside we are as good as anyone else. Seems strange that the team with the 2nd best defence, 5th most goals scored ,third best goal difference and third most wins hasnt managed to finish in the top five . I think Andy has it spot on though 14 defeats ( 9 by the odd goal, of which many could have yielded the 1 point that would have seen us playing again tomorrow night )

I think a repeat show next time around , holding on to the nucleus of the squad adding 2 or 3 or 4 more and ensuring that we turn a few of those narrow defeats into draws and wins and we will have a good season in our new home.

 

PS - Steph , ( fast forwards - Gunz, Walid, Leon, Sammy B, Stuart and Deniz M , these aren't no slouches ) Hope and Hammatt maybe

[Gazza.]

<br />......... as well as running a very good Tonbridge side close in the Trophy (they finished 2nd in the Premier......

 

Err............I was at that game & thought we were woeful, we never once troubled their defence with any threat, we actually seemed unintrested in the 2nd half, compare that to the Leatherhead game where I thought, as Steph said we was excellent & will go as far as to say was one of the best Town performances of all time (that I'd seen!)

 

My view for what its worth having only been to a dozen or so games, two of those being Brentwood & Waltham Forest at home, which was painful viewing to say the least, is that this league is very poor, I've stated that before in previous seasons, but this was one of the worst I've seen, lack of atmosphere at a lot of grounds & dare I say football at park level standard, after the ESL days & that one season in the southern league (which along with the Town had some great footballing teams in it) the decline has been season by season.

 

Here's to a new & fresh start at the QE next season where I hope to see Steve Newing for many a year progressing with the team.

 

As a footnote whats happened to the updates to the league tables & results on this site? the ESL table is from about December I think & where is the play off info? Oh how I miss another's web site.

 

 

 

[Enfield United]

, I'll forecast a Brentwood/Needham final with Brentwood being winners.

 

 

Problem - that's the semi-final!!

 

 

 

 

 

I've gone away now and come back with a re-assessment of the play offs.

 

I don't think Wingate are great and although deserve credit for their league placing I deem them lucky to be in the play off's. So now it's Harlow In the final for me and for some reason I just do not fancy Needham to beat Brentwood, it's either something i've eaten or a gut feeling that Brentwood have the characters to succeed in this game.

 

Harlow v Brentwood I'll go away win. Good news no matter what Brentwood to go up.

[thecoldend]

Good point Gazza. I should of said the trip to Tonbridge - new ground, opposing fans etc . If we had played our A or even B game that day I think we'd have got a result as Tonbridge had a bit of an off day compared to their high standards. Ps - I wasn't at Letherhead game.

 

EU - I'll go with Needham beating Brentwood. Home advantage may help.

 

Wingate are just coming back into to form at the right time .. a close one maybe through on PK'S.

[Stone Cold]

I dont think its all about bigger budgets sure it may help attract better players with the offer of a bigger pay but at the end of the day most players will play for the club who offers more money and that will come 1st with playing for the club/shirt 2nd.

 

Look at W & F they dont have a big budget and they only get over 100 attendees for 'bigger' games but they seem to be around the play off mix every season which shows that with a squad of players who want to play for the club and have a good team morale anything is possible.

 

I know we have had a few injuries but im sure we are not the only club that has had to deal with this, the problem is we have a very large squad which is rotated to many times. Psycologically a player knows that no matter how well he plays the squad will be rotated and he will not be playing every week so therefore the performances are affected.

 

Going by the stats page on the website it only has the stats up to 1st January but in the league alone we had 29 players used in the first 4 and a bit months. Can someone inform us of how many players we used in the league this season and compare with previous seasons?

 

It would be interesting to see how many players other clubs used during the season compared to us.

[Enfield United]

SC-The only reason we used more players than we maybe should is because of injuries, otherwise I think the managers policy is that the winning team keeps it's shirt for the next game. Rotation comes about when suspensions and injuries occur. Steve was up against a horrendous injury list as we have stated again and again.

 

I'm adament next season will be one to enjoy and remember.

[Enfield United]

Good point Gazza. I should of said the trip to Tonbridge - new ground, opposing fans etc . If we had played our A or even B game that day I think we'd have got a result as Tonbridge had a bit of an off day compared to their high standards. Ps - I wasn't at Letherhead game.

 

EU - I'll go with Needham beating Brentwood. Home advantage may help.

 

Wingate are just coming back into to form at the right time .. a close one maybe through on PK'S.

 

 

If anyone else is interested wingate beat Harlow 4-2aet (1-1), And Brentwood beat Needham Market 3-1.

 

So it's a Wingate v's Brentwood Final. The advantage Wingate have is Laird and Smith up front, I bet they are on a few bob to play at Wingate year after year. However I'm sticking to my original forecast that Brentwood will seal the Play Off win.

[OldTowner]

Good point Gazza. I should of said the trip to Tonbridge - new ground, opposing fans etc . If we had played our A or even B game that day I think we'd have got a result as Tonbridge had a bit of an off day compared to their high standards. Ps - I wasn't at Letherhead game.

 

EU - I'll go with Needham beating Brentwood. Home advantage may help.

 

Wingate are just coming back into to form at the right time .. a close one maybe through on PK'S.

 

 

If anyone else is interested wingate beat Harlow 4-2aet (1-1), And Brentwood beat Needham Market 3-1.

 

So it's a Wingate v's Brentwood Final. The advantage Wingate have is Laird and Smith up front, I bet they are on a few bob to play at Wingate year after year. However I'm sticking to my original forecast that Brentwood will seal the Play Off win.

 

 

We all talk about budgets and the need for players etc, but these will be an "arm and a leg value" BUT just look at the lower leagues and there are some proven goal scorers - why not give a few a try - let's face it Hammond did well when he stepped up.

[andyetfc]

Some people talk about one point dropped here and there.

 

Last night

 

Ryman League South Play off

Bognor 1 - Dulwich 3.

 

Bognor finished 31 points ahead of Dulwich in the league. Oh dear!

[Enfield United]

Some people talk about one point dropped here and there.

 

Last night

 

Ryman League South Play off

Bognor 1 - Dulwich 3.

 

Bognor finished 31 points ahead of Dulwich in the league. Oh dear!

 

And they also missed out on automatic promotion by a single goal.

[thecoldend]

And dulwich got less points than us over their 42 games.

[townerboy]

whcih shows why you need to aim for an automatic, rather than play off spot.

[Enfield United]

In case anyone has not heard Wingate beat Brentwood 3-2(aet) to win promotion to the Ryman Prem. Good luck to them. However what was the key?? They have a real talent upfront in Leon Smith by far the most technically gifted striker I've seen at this level, for the record he scored 13 goals in the last 8 games netting in 7 of them.

 

He must have been injured when Wingate had a dip of form as he is a top goalscorer/forward.

 

You can never disguise class

[CD Towner]

In case anyone has not heard Wingate beat Brentwood 3-2(aet) to win promotion to the Ryman Prem. Good luck to them. However what was the key?? They have a real talent upfront in Leon Smith by far the most technically gifted striker I've seen at this level, for the record he scored 13 goals in the last 8 games netting in 7 of them.

 

He must have been injured when Wingate had a dip of form as he is a top goalscorer/forward.

 

You can never disguise class

 

Enfield United, while you are right in the sense that Leon Smith is a top forward at this level, however to state he is the most technically gifted at this level i would have to doubt! Smith is a player who plays on the shoulder of defences with good pace and strength and although he does score goals, he seems to miss a fair few as well as i wouldnt say he is a natural finisher (i know that seems a weird statement given his recent form! but i've seen Wingate play a few times in the last couple of seasons) I personally do not think he is technically a particuarly good player and if he was he would be playing alot higher as with his other attributes (mentioned above) he would be unplayable.

 

Dont think this is me saying he is not a good forward at this level as he is but for me the technical forward in Wingate's team is Laird. Without him holding the ball up, bringing people into play and technically being a clever player, Smith would not have the space to play in. I think it is about getting a balance. As for ETFC, i think we have this, we have pace up front and we also have players who can hold the ball up and create space etc... It is this blend we will need next season, whether it be 2 or 3 up front that we play along with strong midfield running support (which i think we are lacking at present) for us to be successful